Spider for oil and gas wells



y 1942- c. J. GALLAGHER 2,282,758

SEIDER FOR OIL AND GAS WELLS Filed April 8, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l Z3 2.6 u 25 2'4 UIarence J. Gi i 555 721 ATTORNEY.

May-12, 1942 c. J. GALLAGHER 2,282,758

SPIDER FOR QIL AND GAS WELL-S Filed April 8, 1940 4 Shegts-Sheet 2 60a. 67 INVENTOR.

Q v I Mare 66 22 .772

ATTORNEY.

nee J Gallagher y 2, 1942. c. J. GALLAGHER 2,282,758

SPIDER FOR OIL AND GAS WELLS Filed April. 8, 1940 4Sheets- Sheet 4 FIG. 8

,Z7 ,27a. Z9

INVENTOR.

C/arence J Gallagher ATTORNEY.

Patented May 12, 1942 UNITED STATES PAT- N foFFlCE srrnnn FoR'oIL AND GAS WELLS "Clarence J; Gallagher, Gridley, Kans. Application April s, 1940, Serial No. 328,429

4 Claims. (Cl. 24-263) My invention relates to an improvement in spiders for oil well tubing and casing. An object of my invention is to provide a spider that will hold pipe tubing as it is lowered into or withdrawn from oil or gas wells; or the device may be used to drill pipe or casing that is'pulled or lowered in drilling or abandoned wells.

Another object is to provide a spider that may be definitely centered on the center axis of the well so that all work done by the spider will be in perfect alignment with the well.

A further object is to provide a spider of the kind mentioned that is light in weight; yet having plenty of strength to easily withstand all loads imposed thereon. g

A still further object is to provide a spider of the kind mentioned that is provided with an opening in the side thereof so asto permit the spider to be moved side ways on or off the pipe on which the spider is used. v

A still further object is to provide a spider of the kind mentioned that has engaging jaws therein that operate simultaneously so that regardless of the size pipe being worked with the jaws will always hold the pipe on the center axis of the Well.

A still further object is to provide a spider of the kind mentioned in which all the working parts are easily removable and replaceable should any of the parts become worn'or damaged.

A still further object is to provide a spider of Fig. 8 is a perspective view side, edge, and top of one of the jaw track elements.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the front, top, and side of one of the slip jaw elements.

Fig. is a perspective view'showing the'rear, side, and top of one of. the jaw liner elements.

Throughout the .above described figures similar numerals of reference designate the same part.

'. In the drawings is shown. my. improved spider I device comprising a base plate 'I I that is provided the kind mentioned that can be built and sold at a cheap price and still embody all of the above mentioned objects and features of convenience.

These and other objects will be more fully explained as this description progresses. I Now referring to the accompanying drawings; Fig. 1 represents a front view of my improved spider. 7 r Fig. 2 is a plan view of the spider, the top plate thereof being removed for purposes of illus-' tration.

Fig. 3 is a side-view of my improved spider device. I

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of my improved spider device.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of myimproved-spider device. v

Fig. 6 is a vertical detail sectional view through my improved spider device; the view being taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showingthe back side, edge, and top of one of the jaw track elements. 7

with depending car like elements I2 that are equally spaced around the bottom of the plate II, and are provided with screws I3 that are threaded therethrough so that the plate II may be placed on top of a casing pipe indicated by the dotted lines I4, and be screwed thereagainst as a means of adjustably centering the spider thereover and also as a means of rigidly attaching the spider thereto.

Integrally on the bottomof the plate is a depending hollow neck like element I5 that serves as a guide for tubing indicated by'the dottedlines I6 that may be passed therethrough. r

Integrally formed on the plate His a four sided housing in which the opposite sides I l and I8 are spaced apart'and stand in parallel vertical positions, and the other two spaced apart andstandin from top to bottom.

The side walls I I and I8 extend beyond the converging walls I9 and 2Il as weblike elements Na and I 8a andare integral with the base plate I I and their adjacent wall plates I1, I8, I9 and 29. In the plates I9 and 20 is vertically positioned slot elements I9a, and additional downward sloping holes 2%, the object of which will later be made obvious. At 2I and 22 are handle elements spanning between outwardly projecting portions of. the plates Na and I8a by which the handle maybe handled.

The wall H, with an opening through which the pipe I6 may pass sideways, so as to be centrally positioned between the plates I], I8, I9 and 29.

r Along the sides-of this base plate II and the side, wall I! are web like elements 23, to fit within 25 thereon that fit against the flanges 23 where+ upon a bolt 26 may be passed through the flanges 23 and 25 as a means of holding the filler ele'-= ment 24 in place so as toicomplete the continuous showing the front 'sides I9 and-20 are a'convergingposition plate II, and neck I5 is provided:

opening and joining the and at 24 is a filler element adapted I the said opening and having. flanges of the plates 21 and 21a and in each of the plates 21 and 21a is an elongated slot |9b that registers with the slot |3a in the side walls I9 and 20. Also in the plates 21 and 21a is a plurality of down wardly sloping holes 2% that register with the C:

downwardly sloping holes 28a inthe sloping side walls l9 and 28. The object of these holes and slots will later be made obvious.

At 36 and 3| is shown slidable jaw elements having dovetailed tongue elements 32 on the back side thereof and fitting within the dovetail grooves 29 in the guide plates 21 and 21a so as to hold the jaws 30 and 3| in a vertically slidable position on the guide plates 21 and 21a. The face of the jaws 38 and 3|.is hollow as illustrated at =2.

33 and inthe back side thereof is a recessed portion 34, the object of which will later be explained. Aroundthe top and bottom of hollow portion 33 and in the back side. thereof is a recessed portion 34 theobject of .which will later be explained. Around the top and bottom of hollow portion 33 is an inwardly extending flange like portion 35, the object of which will later be made obvious.

At 36 and 31' is shown toothed liner elements having curved backs 38, shoulders 39, a tongue element 46 and extension portions 38a of such size and shape that the liners 36 and 31 will fit into the hollow portions 33, 34, of the jaws 36 and 3| so as to be solidly seated therein, and at.4l is shown screws that pass through .holes 42 in the liner elements 36 and 31 in the jaws30 and 3|.

The opposed concave faces of the liners 36 and.

31 are ,providedwith sharp teeth 42 for gripping a pipe l6 as will readily be understood.

While the particular, form of liners 36 and 31 shown may be the preferable form, it is to be understood that these forms may .be varied'to suit the desires .of the designer or manufacturer and of course the shape of the jaws 36 and 3| will also have to conform to the adjoining form v of the liners 36 and 31.

It will also be understood that varying shapes and sizes of the teeth of the liners may be employed and thetop and bottom edges of the 'liners'may be curved or rounded off as desired to form guide portions for entering thepipe |6 between'the liners 36 and31, as will readily be understood;

The corner portions of the sidejplates l1 and 18 extend upwardly'and join the'plates ,|'9 and 20 and support'a top plate 43 which is rigidly held thereon by means of bolts 44, that pass through the plate 43 and are threaded into holes 45 in the adjoining corners of the plates |1'-|9, |9--|8, |8-2-6 and 26-41. The plate 43 is provided with a flared opening or throat 46 that is positioned in axial alignment with the opening in the neck element l4, and functions as a guiding element for apipe l6 that may be passed through the throat 46and between the liners 36 and 31 and through the opening in the neck element|5.-

In the throat 46is a split bushing 41 and 41a,

' thatflts within. the throat-46 and somewhat closely around the1pipe. ;|6 so as to provide a more accurate guide in the plate 43 for the pipe l6.

In the plate 43 and over each jaw 35 is a spring urged shock absorbing and initial actuating device for the jaws 35. Each of these devices comprises a shaft 48 slidable longitudinally in a bearing 49, positioned at the bottom of a bore 50 in an upwardly extending boss like element 5| in which is positioned a head 52 on the shaft 48.

The plate 43 is provided with an opening 6| which opens from the side of the plate 43 into the throat 46 and is in registry over the opening in the plate l1, base plate II and neck element IS. The opening is provided with a closure element 62 that is provided with flange like elements 63 that fit between rib elements 64 on the plate.|3, and a bolt 65 passes through the rib elements 64 and the flange elements 63 to rigidly hold the closure element 62 in place in the open ing 6| in the plate 43.

At 53 is a second bore inthe bottom portion ofthe plate .43 through which passes the shaft .48- around which is positioned a. helical spring 54 that-is compressible between the upper. end of the bore 53 and a cap nut55 on the lower end of the shaft 46. 4-

Extending outwardly from the side wall |8 and upwardly from the baseplate II and integrally formed therewith is a pair of web elements 56 and 51 in which is formed bearing portions 58 and 59 in which is .revolvably mounted a shaft 6, the outer end of the shaft 66 is provided with a hexagonal formation60a on which is removably mounted a lever handle element 66, carryinga head 61 in which is a hexagonal shaped hole to receive the hexagonal shaped end 60a of the shaft 60 in such a manner that by moving the lever 66 upor down, the shaft 69 will be re: volved. 1

Around the shaft 60. is-a helical spring element 68, one end ofwhich is turnedaround a pin '69 that is rigidly fixed on or in the shaft 66, the otherend of. the spring 68 passingthrough a hole at the point 10 in the web 51. V. The spring 68 being so tensioned as to act as a counter balance for the lever 66 and other parts-of the machine that will later, be described.

' On. the shaft is anpair of lever arms 1| and 12 that-pass through slots 13 in the extensions |8a of'the wall l8, one end of the rocker arms 1| and 12;;being. rigidly attached to the shaft 66 by means of pins that pass through the ends J of; the rocker armsJI- and 12 and the shaft, .66.

The other ends of the'rocker arms 1| and 12v are provided with ball formations 15 and 16 that 'exe tend in an outward direction from the levers 1| and 12. K j

At 11 and 18 is shown pin elements that pass through the vertically positioned slots |9a in the side walls I9 and 26 and one end of the pins" and 18 are threaded intothe jaws 30 and 3| and the other end of the pins 11 and 18 are provided with ball formations 19"and 86. At 8| is a link element having ball sockets 82 and 83 thereon to receive the balls and 16, and at 84 is a second link element having ball sockets 85 and 86 formed on the ends thereof and hold the balls 15 and 19.

The operation of thespider is as follows: The spider isset withthebase plate H on top of the well casing; M with the ears |2 projecting downwardlyalong the outsideofythe casing l4, then the screws |3 are screwed against the casing to center the spider over the casing and finally rigidly attach the spider to the casing l4.

The spider having been so adjusted and placed, l

the bushing 41-4'Ia may be removed from the spider and the tubing I6 may be entered endways through the throat 46, and by raising the lever 66 the levers II and 12 will simultaneously raise the jaws 36 and 3| upwardly along the diverging track elements 26 and 21 whereby the liners 36 and 31 are moved apart enough that the tube I6 will easily and freely pass therebetween. The tube is then passed on downwardly between the liners 36 and 3'! and through the opening in the neck I5. This downward movement is continued until it is necessary to add another length of tubing to the first at which time the lever 66 is rocked downwardly thereby moving the jaws 30 and 3| and the liners 36 and 31 downwardly to a point where the teeth 42 of the liners 36 and 31 engage and hold the pipe I6 against further downward movement, whereupon the hoisting mechanism in the derrick is disconnected from the pipe I6 and a new length of pipe such as I6 is joined by means of a threaded coupling to the preceding length of pipe I6. The lowering mechanism of the derrick is then attached to the upper end of the new length of pipe I6, whereupon the lever 66 is swung upwardly to move the jaws 36 and 3| and the liners 36 and 31 therein, upwardly and outwardly so as to permit the continued downward movement of the pipe I6.

The foregoing operation is repeated and continued until the desired string of tubing I6 has been entered into the well. The tubing may be removed from the well in the reverse manner that it was entered into the ,well.

It will be understood that the counterbalance spring 68 may be so tensioned that the weight of the jaws 30 and 3| and connecting operating mechanism therebetween and therefor will overpower the spring 68 and the operation of the jaws 36 and 3| engaging the pipe I6 will become semi-automatic.

There may be occasions when it may be desirable to place the spider in engaging position with the tubing I6 when the tubing cannot be entered lengthways through the spider, therefore the spider is provided with removable sections 24 and 62 which may be removed from the spider by removing the bolts 26 and 65 and then slipping the sections 24 and 62 from the spider and then by throwing the lever 66 to its extreme upward position whereupon the jaws 30 and 3| and the liners 36 and 3'! therein are moved upwardly to their extreme position which increases the width of the space A to a distance greater than the diameter of the pipe I6 whereupon the spider may be slipped sideways so that the pipe I6 will pass through the opening left by the removable sections 24 and 62 into a position between the liners 36 and 31, the removable sections 34 and 62 and their respective bolts 26 and,

65 may be now replaced to their original position and the process of the liners 36 and 31 engaging and disengaging the pipe I6 may be efiected by the throwing of the lever 66 downwardly and upwardly the same as previously described.

If it is desired to guide the pipe I6 more accurately, through the spider the bushing 4'|4'|a may be placed in the throat 46 to more closely guide and hold the pipe I6 on the center axis of the spider and casing I4.

When the jaws 36 and 3| are moved to their extreme upward position the upper face of the jaws 36 and 3| will engage the lower end of their respective shaft 48 and as the jaws 30 and 3| continue their upward movement the shafts 48 will be moved upwardly in their bearings 43 to a point where the springs I9 are compressed to a point where they and the nuts 55 on the end of the shafts are housed within the bores 53. This arrangement provides a shock absorbermeohanism which serves to stop the upward movement of the jaws 36 and 3| and avoid the jaws 36 and 3| solidly bumping against the under side of the plate 43. The pressure of the springs 54 of course is exerted against the jaws 30 and SI and urge the downward movement of the jaws 30 and 3| which in effect promotes the smooth and easy movement of the jaws 36 and 3| in their movement of downward travel for the purposes previously described.

Such modifications of my invention may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intention of the invention. Now having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a spider device for holding tubular objects; in combination, a housing element having a base thereon for the support of the spider device, track means arranged on opposite sides of, and within said housing and converging from top to bottom, said track means being detachably attached to the housing element, and a plate on the top of, and attached to the housing element, said plate and base elements having an opening therethrouglnsaid openings being concentrically positioned about the center axis of the housing, and removable means whereby an object may be moved sideways through the housing wall, plate and base elements into the housing and between jaw elements, a pair of jaw elements for engaging said tubular object, said jaw elements being attached one to each of the said track elements and being slidable vertically thereon, and registering vertically positioned slots in said track elements and the opposite side walls of the said housing, and means on said jaws and projecting through said slots for sliding said jaws, a plurality of bearings, said bearings being carried by, and positioned outside the housing and base element, a shaft, said shaft being horizontally and removably positioned in said bearings, and removable lever means on said shaft for rocking said shaft, and a pair of lever arms rigidly mounted on said shaft and positioned one on each side of said housing, and link elements connecting between the outer end of each of said rigidly mounted lever arms and their respective means on said jaws for sliding the jaws, and counterbalance means engaging said shaft for counterbalancing said jaws and lever arms.

2. In a spider for holding tubular objects as defined in claim 1, and spring actuated means carried by said top plate for buffing the movement of said jaws at the upper end of the slidable travel thereof.

3. In a spider device for holding tubular objects as defined in claim 1, and spring actuated detachable face elements on said jaws as and for 

